-8-

'It's her,' Arthur thought. 'She's the woman in my dreams. She's real.'

He must've held her hand longer than necessary because he felt her pull away and turn to her father.

"Do you want me to bring in coffee, dad?" Her voice was warm and it flowed through him like a memory.

"I'll do it," Tom said. "Please make yourself comfortable, Mr. Pendragon."

"Thank you," Arthur said and turned once again to the woman who was in the small office with him.

She sat on the chair she had previously vacated and crossed her legs at the ankle, folding her hands primly on her lap. If some other woman had done it, Arthur would have found it silly and old-fashioned, but with Guinevere, it was nothing short of regal.

He sat in the chair opposite her.

"Is anything wrong, Mr. Pendragon?" Guinevere looked at him, her face an unreadable mask.

"I'm sorry, I know it's impolite to stare," Arthur said. "But I can't shake the feeling that we've met before."

Guinevere gave a slight smile and a word reverberated in Arthur's head: beautiful.

"I don't think so, Mr. Pendragon," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm quite sure that you don't frequent any of the places I go to."

Arthur was saved from embarrassing himself any further when Tom entered the room carrying a tray laden with a coffee pot, cups, and a bowl of sugar.

Without another word (or a glance), Guinevere stood up to help her father. Arthur stood up when she did, old-fashioned manners having been drilled into him as a young boy.

"I can do this, Gwen," Tom smiled at his daughter and sat the tray down on a side table.

Arthur waited until Guinevere had sat back down before settling in his previously abandoned chair. He tried to look disinterested but he couldn't keep his eyes from the woman who was a few inches away from where he was. His fingers itched to reach out to her, to touch her, to pull her close to him, but from the way she looked at him—like he was something disgusting that she had trod on—Arthur knew that he had better stay away.

Tom gave each of them a cup filled with the fragrant brew. Arthur took a sip and marveled at how perfect it was.

"You'll have to tell me your secret, Mr. Leodegrance," he said as he set down his cup.

"You'll have to talk to Gwen," Tom smiled at his daughter. "She taught me how to do it."

Guinevere gave a small laugh that flowed over Arthur. There was something about this woman that was familiar to him, and it wasn't just because he had been dreaming about her.

"Shall we get down to business?" Tom sat behind his desk and fixed Arthur with a steady look. "I know this isn't a social call, Mr. Pendragon."

"Arthur, please," he liked dispensing with formalities. "Mr. Pendragon is for my father."

Arthur noted that Tom didn't encourage him to use his first name.

"Mr. Leodegrance," Arthur began. "Pendragon, Inc. has made it clear from the beginning that we are prepared to pay you more than double the estimated value of your property. What I don't understand is why you have taken this long to inform us about your decision to sell."

"I have spent 30 years of my life in this part of town, Mr. Pendragon," Tom's voice was gentle, but there was no mistaking the will behind it. "I will not just pack up and leave."

Arthur bowed his head. He had heard this before, but he also knew that everyone can be swayed to ally with the Pendragons.

"What plans does your company have for this part of town, Mr. Pendragon?" Guinevere asked.

"Office buildings," he answered simply. "This location is strategic, even if it is a distance from the financial district. And please call me Arthur."

"How soon do you expect a response, Mr. Pendragon?" Guinevere pointedly ignored Arthur's request. Arthur got the message loud and clear: her formal address let him know that he held no sway over her.

"I would like to leave here with one," he told Guinevere honestly before turning to speak to Tom once again. "Mr. Leodegrance, surely you realize that there is no reason to let this go on longer than it already has."

Tom was quiet as he contemplated Arthur's words. He had arrived at a decision weeks ago, but just wanted to see how sincere the Pendragons were with their offer.

Guinevere seemed to notice her father's mood and stood up. Arthur did the same.

"I will leave you two to talk," she gave Tom a smile before moving to the door. "Let me know if you need anything."

After a perfunctory glance at Arthur, she walked out of the office. He stared at her every step of the way.